The purpose of this letter is update the citizens of Fairfield County about the recent Senate Bill 796 that will require Fairfield County Schools to pay Chester County schools for students to attend schools in Chester.

On Thursday, May 14, 2009, two officers of the Fairfield County Board of Trustees, along with the acting superintendent, and a member of the staff met with Senator Creighton Coleman, House Representative Boyd Brown, and a member of the South Carolina School Board Association.

Chester County school representatives were also invited. The goal of this meeting was to examine the legislation and express concerns regarding the bill and seek resolution.

As a result of the Thursday, May 14, 2009 meeting, Fairfield and Chester County boards and administrators plan to meet during the later part of the week of May 25-29, 2009 in order to develop a plan that is agreeable to both districts, and that supports the needs of all the students that the legislation will affect.

It is the expressed will of the Board of Trustees and Fairfield County Schools to work with our legislative delegation, and we appreciate the time both Senator Coleman and Representative Brown spent in discussing the pressing issues.

Our legislators agreed to withhold further action on the Senate Bill 796 until June 2009 in order to allow time for negotiations between the two districts.

Fairfield County

Board of Trustees